2023

The Benin Bronzes: A digital heritage documentation & training programme

In November 2022, a team from Factum Foundation conducted a two-week training programme in digital heritage documentation, focusing on photogrammetry, for participants from EMOWAA (Edo Museum of West African Art) and NCMM (National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria).

Participants from EMOWAA and NCMM with the Director General of NCMM, Professor Abba Tijani, at the Nigerian National Museum, Lagos © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

In the first week, the training was hosted by the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos; the second week was arranged inside the National Museum Benin City. Both institutions hold significant collections of material from the Benin Kingdom. Objects digitised included bronze plaques and heads, wooden and terracotta heads, and other ceremonial regalia.

The aim of the training was to establish a team of digital heritage specialists enabled to carry out recording projects both in Nigeria and on projects abroad.

Ferdinand Saumarez Smith talking to the trainees about Factum Foundation’s wider work © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

Participants from EMOWAA and NCMM recording a bronze head using photogrammetry at the National Museum, Lagos © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

Participants from EMOWAA and NCMM recording a bronze head using photogrammetry at the National Museum, Lagos © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

Participants from EMOWAA and NCMM recording in the National Museum of Unity, Benin City © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

Jonathan Chambalin, an EMOWAA trainee, receives a training certificate at the National Museum, Lagos © Otto Lowe for Factum Foundation

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